Millions of farm animals are reared behind the closed doors of the
factory farm. They are crated, crammed or confined. Often kept in conditions of
utter deprivation. They are treated as little more than production machines.
The hidden world of factory farming is exposed inside this leaflet ....

SOWS have been made to spend their 16 week pregnancy tethered to a
concrete floor. They can only stand up and lie down. Take a pace forward and a
pace back. They repeatedly chew in frustration at the metal bars around them.
Compassion in World Farming has campaigned vigorously against sow stalls and
tethers. Following our recent campaign these methods will be banned in the UK in
1999. However, they are still in widespread use in many other countries. In the
Republic of Ireland 95% of breeding sows are kept like this.

MANY SOWS are forced to give birth (farrow) in the farrowing crate.
They are unable to build a nest for their piglets and cannot turn around. Over
80% of sows in Britain are crated in this way when farrowing

HENS are imprisoned for life in a battery cage. Their cage is so small
they can't even stretch their wings. They would really like to scratch at the
ground, perch, dustbathe and make a nest. In the battery cage, they can do none
of these things. They are caged like this all day, every day. In Britain alone
about 30 million egg laying hens are kept in battery cages.

BROILER CHICKENS are reared for meat - tens of thousands to a shed.
They are forced to grow at twice their natural rate. As a result many will
suffer bone deformities before they are slaughtered at just 6-7 weeks old. Over
600 million broiler chickens are reared annually under these conditions in the
British Isles.

MILLIONS OF TURKEYS are also crammed into huge windowless sheds. They often
have part of their beaks cut off to prevent aggression. They may suffer from
painful breast blisters and ulcerated feet due to the often filthy conditions.

DAIRY COWS are being pushed to breaking point to produce ever more
milk. Frequently infected with painful mastitis, often lame, most cows produce 2
or 3 calves and then get slaughtered - worn out years before their time. Their
male calves usually get exported to cruel veal crate farms in Europe.

Factory farming has even taken to the water. Salmon and trout are crowded
into tiny cages or pens. They often become stressed and prone to disease.

Already, farm animals are being pushed to their natural limits to maximize production. Genetic engineering threatens to put these animal "machines" into
overdrive. By altering their genetic make-up animals will be made to grow even
faster, bigger or leaner. What price will they pay in further suffering?